Metamorphosis

Choosing my best post assumes that I am capable of analyzing my own writing which I most assuredly am not. This one is simply my favorite. It was originally posted on September 16, 2006.

Metamorphosis

This week has been all about birth and rebirth at our house. Finnian, born on September 8th at 7 pounds, 5 ounces, joined the ranks of our troops and calmly took up his very special role as the little prince. I feel truly reborn with each passing day as the aftershocks of a very long and uncomfortable pregnancy fade into memory, and on Friday our own little butterfly emerged from its cocoon and flew into the world to face his own destiny in pure splendor.

After weeks of waiting and watching a Monarch caterpillar get fatter and fatter, the girls saw him create his glorious jade green chrysalis flecked with gold. Every day we checked and waited, waited and watched, as a metamorphosis unfolded within that little sack. On Friday morning Rowan and I noticed that the cocoon had turned black and was just transparent enough to see a hint of folded orange within. It was like a sliver of spectacular in waiting.

We spent most of our day watching the chrysalis become more and more transparent. By three o’clock both Rowan and I were fighting to keep our eyelids open and, after a Google search revealed this final stage could take 36 hours, we laid down for a nap. When Keira and Madigan came in from school an hour later I heard a piercing scream. They had run right to the chrysalis and found the most beautiful little creature clinging to the split open shell of the cocoon, drying its magnificent wings.

Life, birth, rebirth, whether human or insect, instills in me a deep faith in the divine. I can’t help but think how every lesson in life, every priority, every mystery, every struggle, problem and doubt, is revealed in the simple unfolding of these wings: the butterfly’s, Finn’s, these three remarkable little girls', and even my own. And I can’t help but feel scared and sad for how quickly life happens. If you turn away for even an instant, another milestone is passed, another memory is made, and you have to set free your butterfly.

Goodbye Friend!

A writer, editor, teacher, and mom to four little menches, Nutmeg takes life with a grain of salt and a little vodka. Tune into her cyber sitcom at Simply Nutmeg.

Comments

[Uncle Orca]

Boy, ain't that the truth.

[Janet a.k.a Wonder Mom]

Wonderful.
We used to do a 'butterfly theme' in school and the kids always got a kick out of the caterpillar turning into the butterfly...They always hated letting them go.

[Chrisanne]

aw, what a wonderful post!
My son just got a butterfly garden. We'll be watching the same metamorphasis soon in our house!

[mothergoosemouse]

How fabulous! I've never gotten to witness that metamorphosis. Instead, I have to read about it in Eric Carle books.

[Binky]

My daughter's favorite book is about a plain caterpillar named Percival. I've never actually thought about it too deeply, but now I'll have something to ponder when I'm reading it to her for the 57th time in a row this evening :)

[Allison]

We took the kids to a butterfly sanctuary last winter. It was pure magic to walk into these huge, hot rooms and see thousands of butterflies. They landed on us, flew right by and seemed to dance with each other.

I hadn't thought of this visit in a while. Thanks for reminded me.

[FishyGirl]

We live on the edge of a park, and we've gone to the Monarch butterfly festival a couple of times. It's always so amazing and gratifying to see the newly hatched butterflies, as well as the wonder on your childrens' faces. Thanks for a great post and for hosting me this month, Meg.

[Peg]

Amazing stuff! It reminds me of the day I went to the Boston Museum of Science, and watched for the first time in my life, a chick making it's way out of it's shell and viewing the world for the very first time.

All of nineteen years old, and there I stood, bawling my friggin' eyes out!

Great post...life and rebirth is just so very moving!

[Heather]

Beautiful words.

[chelle]

That is so sweet!
We have friends that did the butterfly from lava project and loved it.

[A Elliot]

That is so true!

[Damselfly]

I love the parallel! (And my boy was born just the day before on the 7th!)